Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-04-01
MIR. CARSE'S REASONS.
WHY he is Particularly Anxious to
be Mayor
some Important Transactions to be
Consummated the Next Year in
which he is Personally Interested
Isit safe to Elect Him.

" men ne IL GtEsOMdiy AhtOhCSASu
Isl, safe to Elect Him.
II might tell you some OF the reasons
why Henry Carse sought so anxiously
the republican nomination for the mayor
alty," SAID well known citizen yester,
day afternoon, land for the same reason
he will leave no stone unturned to be
elected just come into my office here
and will tell you something that you
may publish as warning to those intend
ing to vote for the gentlemen who heads
the republican ticket IN this campaign.
Mr.. Carse is not running on the republi-
can ticket this time. He was fortunate
in securing the republican nomination,
more fortunate indeed than | or q good
many Others thought it possible for him
to be, prior to the republican convention.
Mr.. Carse Is running on the Carse ticket
this year, azd while some republicans
will vote for him as the republican uom-
inee, there'are great many who will not.
I am republican myself and intend to
vote for Mr.. Blanding, and l think l
voice the sentiment of great many res
publicans when l say this. But to the
points concerning Mr.. Carse's self ins
terested attitude in this campaign. Now
what am going TO give you are straight
facts, and you may put them down as
such. | can substantiate every word that
l am about to say to you in this conversa>
ton if need be-"
THE RoDMAN RIFLE BONDS.
"The Rodman Rifle company own the
Armory building on Third avenue and
Sixteenth street, and it is mortgaged pref
ty heavily to pay the bonded indebted
ness In the first place the Rodman
Rifles purchased the lot and erected a
building and to pay for the lot and build
ing, issued bonds and secured them
by mortgage. Carse & Ohlweiler
are understood to be much the largest
stockholders in the concern, and they
have bought up from time to time a
good deal of the stock at nominal prices.
At the last term of the circuit court and
on .ba Loot dow IF tho aourt Uhao Indua
Smith was here in the Coyne case, de-
cree was entered in favor of Carse &
Ohlweiler for the foreclosure aud sale of
the premises on the mortgage. The
question of the purchase of the lot and
building by the city has been discussed
of late by the interested parties, which
fact has been become the more public by
the advocacy of such purchase by the
Union The sale must necessarily be made
in few months under the decree on file,
and the object is for the city to take it.
And to this proposed purchase by the
city, several points arise; first of these is
whether the city has the right to buy the
property. The city has unquestlonably
the power to erect city hall for the
city's use, but the question arises as to
whether it would he better policy to buy
this building and reconstruct it, or build
one on their own property-the Spencer
or as it is commonly called-UniOr
square. But the chief point is here: Ii
the city does buy, Mr.. Carse should be
free in his part of the transaction. II
he is mayor he acts as the seller, and in
his official position as administrator Of
the city, he becomes likewise the pur.
chaser. Ii he is in a position to exercis,
| influence over the aldermen, and like
wise have the influence of his own vote
it gives him double advantage in Thu
premises It cannot be denied that Mr.
Carse has sought the nomination fo
mayor; he was anxious to get it
and he Is anxious to be elected
He docs not want it for the salary Their
is in it, and ne has already had ell tn
honor and glory there is iD it,"
This property must be sold within (
short time; within few months accord
ing to the decree of court on file, and i
the city purchases, 1t must do so thi
summer-before the September term o
court. Mr.. Carse is personally interest
ed in this transaction; the property i
such rs it would be an elephant on tn
hands of any corporation. unless it be tn
city. 1t is not adapted TO business pur-
poses, and if the city should buy it, tn
city's agent should not be the agent TO
the property. ! can not say that hav
any objections to the city's purchase c
this property If it is free to act in th
matter The building may be just th
right thing for the city TO have, but III
mayor of the city should not be the owne
of the properly the city is to purchase
Nor do | mean to say that Messrs. Cars
s Oblweiler have done anything bu
legitimate and honest transactions j
buying these bonds. 1t is to their inter
est to sell the property to the city, an
perhaps no one will object, but Mr. Cars
should not be mayor at the time of III
transaction"
| THE WATER WORKS DEAL.
"But there is something further tina
ought to be mentioned in connectio
with Dir. Carse's candidacy. 1t is this
On the removal of the waterworks from
the lower end Of the city to the preser